With a significant increase in sales, Kia Motors is planning to invest $100 million in the US to boost up their production to meet the increasing market demand. This South Korean giant will utilize this money to increase the production of their Georgia plant by 20 percent.

The Georgia plant, Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia, Inc. (KMMG), currently produces 300,000 vehicles per annum, which will be increased to 360,000 vehicles per annum after the proposed expansion. The plant currently employs about 3000 people and additional 1000 people are already hired by the automaker for the proposed additional production. The expansion plan will upgrade the stamping, welding, paint and general assembly of the plant. This plant currently produces the Sorento SUV and Hyundai Motors’Santa Fe SUV, while the 2012 Optima sedan will be added to the lineup this September.

The Optima sedan, also known as the K5 in Korea, is the one which along with the Sorento is responsible for Kia’s recent success in the US market. The company’s success is described as unprecedented by the CEO of Kia Motors, America. Kia reported an increase of 53.4 percent in sales in May, with total sales of 48,212 units and 45 percent in the first five months of 2011. Kia’s parent Hyundai, which currently holds 39 percent stakes in Kia, reported an increase of 21 percent in sales. Hyundai and Kia collectively topped 10 percent in market shares, thus being ranked fifth in global car sales.

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